Uff da! (/ˈʊfdə/ⓘ)(sometimes also spelled oof-da, oofda, oofala, oof-dah, oofdah, huffda, uff-da, uffda, uff-dah, ufda, ufdah, or uf daa)[citation needed] is a Scandinavian exclamation or interjection used to express dismay, typically upon hearing bad news. Of Norwegian origin, the phrase was brought by Scandinavian Americans to the Upper Midwest, New England, and Pacific Northwest regions of the United States during the 19th century, where its meaning was broadened to express also surprise, astonishment, exhaustion, or relief.
Norwegian-Texan mug [1]Uff Da Shoppe in Westby, WI
In Danish and Norwegian language, uf (Danish and older Norwegian spelling) or uff (current Norwegian spelling) is a mild and polite vernacularinterjection used when something is unpleasant, uncomfortable, hurtful, annoying, sad, or irritating.[2][3] The word is an onomatopoeia[4] corresponding to English oof, Dutch oef and German uff. Other similar interjections exist in Danish, e.g. uhu or føj,[2] and Norwegian, e.g. huff.[4]Uff da may be used in Norwegian as a response when hearing something lamentable (but not too serious), and can be translated as "Oh, I'm sorry to hear that".[5]Da is derived from Old Norseþá meaning 'then' in this context (similar to e.g. the response "ok, then"); both da and English then (from Old Englishþanne, þænne, þonne) are derived from Proto-Germanic *þan ('at that (time), then').[6] The Swedish exclamations ojdå and usch då are similar in meaning, with Swedish då corresponding to Norwegian da.[7][8][9] Uff is a Swedish word with the same meaning as the Norwegian word, it is documented in writing from 1770. [10][11]
North American usageedit
Uff da is a marker of Scandinavian heritage, predominantly heard in the upper Midwest, which has a significant population with Scandinavian roots. It also is used throughout the Pacific Northwest, particularly in the Washington cities of Ballard[12] and Stanwood.[13] Its variety of meanings let it substitute for common obscenities. [14] Within Scandinavian-American culture, uff da frequently translates to "I am overwhelmed", somewhat similar to the Yiddish phrase oy vey.
It has also been applied to places and events, such as:
^Haugen, Einar (1985). Norwegian English dictionary : a pronouncing and translating dictionary of modern Norwegian [Bokmål and Nynorsk], with a historical and grammatical introduction. University of Wisconsin. ISBN0-299-03874-2
Allen, Harold B. (1973). The Linguistic Atlas of the Upper Midwest, Volume 1, (Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press), ISBN978-0816606863. OCLC 658192.
Kinnes, Tormod. "Uff Da: Norwegian-American expressivity"
Archived from lawzone.com/half-nor/uffda.htm
"Rock Bend Folk Festival 2007 – Al Batt". YouTube.
December 15, 2023
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Uff da ˈ ʊ f d e sometimes also spelled oof da oofda oofala oof dah oofdah huffda uff da uffda uff dah ufda ufdah or uf daa citation needed is a Scandinavian exclamation or interjection used to express dismay typically upon hearing bad news Of Norwegian origin the phrase was brought by Scandinavian Americans to the Upper Midwest New England and Pacific Northwest regions of the United States during the 19th century where its meaning was broadened to express also surprise astonishment exhaustion or relief Norwegian Texan mug 1 Uff Da Shoppe in Westby WI Contents 1 Danish and Norwegian usage 2 North American usage 3 See also 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksDanish and Norwegian usage editIn Danish and Norwegian language uf Danish and older Norwegian spelling or uff current Norwegian spelling is a mild and polite vernacular interjection used when something is unpleasant uncomfortable hurtful annoying sad or irritating 2 3 The word is an onomatopoeia 4 corresponding to English oof Dutch oef and German uff Other similar interjections exist in Danish e g uhu or foj 2 and Norwegian e g huff 4 Uff da may be used in Norwegian as a response when hearing something lamentable but not too serious and can be translated as Oh I m sorry to hear that 5 Da is derived from Old Norse tha meaning then in this context similar to e g the response ok then both da and English then from Old English thanne thaenne thonne are derived from Proto Germanic than at that time then 6 The Swedish exclamations ojda and usch da are similar in meaning with Swedish da corresponding to Norwegian da 7 8 9 Uff is a Swedish word with the same meaning as the Norwegian word it is documented in writing from 1770 10 11 North American usage editUff da is a marker of Scandinavian heritage predominantly heard in the upper Midwest which has a significant population with Scandinavian roots It also is used throughout the Pacific Northwest particularly in the Washington cities of Ballard 12 and Stanwood 13 Its variety of meanings let it substitute for common obscenities 14 Within Scandinavian American culture uff da frequently translates to I am overwhelmed somewhat similar to the Yiddish phrase oy vey It has also been applied to places and events such as Uff Da Airport located in Stoughton Wisconsin 15 Uffda Fest an annual event held in Spring Grove Minnesota 16 Uff Da Days an annual event held in Ostrander Minnesota 17 Uffda Day Fall Festival an annual event held in Rutland North Dakota 18 19 The Uff Da Shoppe located in Stanwood Washington 20 Uff Da Sign Store located in Wausau Wisconsin 21 See also editCulture of Minnesota Culture of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan Culture of Wisconsin List of English words of Norwegian originReferences edit Uff Da Ya ll Viking Cowboy Retrieved 2023 01 16 a b uf Den Danske Ordbog Retrieved 3 March 2021 Sok i Bokmals og Nynorskordboka Retrieved 2009 09 19 a b uff Det Norske Akademis ordbok Retrieved 3 March 2021 Haugen Einar 1985 Norwegian English dictionary a pronouncing and translating dictionary of modern Norwegian Bokmal and Nynorsk with a historical and grammatical introduction University of Wisconsin ISBN 0 299 03874 2 da Det Norske Akademis ordbok Retrieved 4 March 2021 Uff Da defined Sons of Norway Blog March 25 2010 Retrieved March 1 2019 Anette Broteng Christiansen April 18 2012 Uff da A Piece of Norway in the U S Thor News Retrieved March 1 2019 ojda Wiktionary Retrieved March 1 2019 uff SAOB svenska se in Swedish Retrieved 2023 02 20 uff SAOL svenska se in Swedish Retrieved 2023 02 20 Ballard Your Destination Guide to Seattle You can find me where the lutefisk is 21 October 2010 Rob Lein Vikings bumble in draft Uff da Bismarck Tribune Retrieved 2009 09 19 Uff Da Airport airnav com 28 February 2019 Retrieved March 1 2019 UffDa Fest Spring Grove Lions Club Retrieved March 1 2019 Uff Da Days Ostrander MN Retrieved March 1 2019 Uffda Day rutlandnd com Retrieved March 1 2019 Martin Jonathan Court Battle Shifts the Political Terrain for Senators in the Heartland New York Times October 7 2018 Retrieved 2018 10 08 Uff Da Shoppe Scandinavian Gifts www uffdashoppe com Retrieved 2022 11 19 Uff Da Sign Store Further reading editAllen Harold B 1973 The Linguistic Atlas of the Upper Midwest Volume 1 Minneapolis University of Minnesota Press ISBN 978 0816606863 OCLC 658192 Haugen Einar 1957 Beginning Norwegian a grammar and reader George G Harrap amp Co Ltd ISBN 978 0245531378 Lovoll Odd S 1998 The Promise Fulfilled A Portrait of Norwegian Americans Today Minneapolis University of Minnesota Press ISBN 9780816628322 Mohr Howard 1987 How to talk Minnesotan a visitor s guide New York NY Penguin Books ISBN 978 0143122692 Stangland E C 1987 Red Strangland s Norwegian Home Companion Dorset Press ISBN 978 0880295215 Stangland E C 1988 Uff Da Jokes Norse Press ISBN 978 0960269242 Clark Jayne July 25 2002 True blue North You betcha USA Today External links editUff da at Wikipedia s sister projects nbsp Definitions from Wiktionary nbsp Media from Commons nbsp Data from Wikidata Kinnes Tormod Uff Da Norwegian American expressivity Uff da Archived from lawzone com half nor uffda htm Rock Bend Folk Festival 2007 Al Batt YouTube Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Uff da amp oldid 1186744904, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
